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PreventingOsteoarthritis

Some risk factors for osteoarthritis are modifiable. Prevention of osteoarthritis should focus on risk factors one can control, such as maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding occupational hazards that stress the joints. Occupations involving heavy physical work, especially prolonged kneeling and squatting, have approximately twice the risk of knee osteoarthritis1.

Lifestyle

Active lifestyles will not only help to maintain a healthy weight but can also keep the muscle around the joints strong. Even a small amount of weight gain can put enough added stress on the joints to make osteoarthritis symptoms worse.

Vitamin supplements

Research has shown that people with low levels of vitamin C and D had a much faster progression of their existing osteoarthritis2. One study showed that Vitamin C supplementation may prevent osteoarthritis but did not reveal that it was an effective treatment for those who already had osteoarthritis3.